Golf ball washer



Nov. 11, 1952 J, J. GOLLER GOLF BALL WASHER Filed June 9, 1950 .mmlI/lllllIh-JHIH(1mmHll In..lhfllmmlhhuJl.....m.......1.... .mhzmul...

, I I I l4 INVENTOR. JOSEPH J. GOLL EE,

ATTOE/VE Y5.

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED FATE NT F 2 617,132 eQiirBALL WASHER :Ios fe'ph-John Goller, Amsterdam, N. Y.

- Ap lication-June 9, 1950, Serial-No. 167,060

'3 Claims,- (01. 15-21) My invention relates to improvementsin golf ball washers. v

A primary object of the invention is to provide a golf ball washer-including apan of opposed scrubbing elements and meansto resilientlyurge the scrubbing elements together-in contact, with the ball being washed. k I

A further object is to provide agolf ball washer of the above mentioned character including a novel and simplified means for adjusting the tension on the opposed scrubbing elements, without the necessity of removing any part of the washing device from the receptacle or pail carrying it.

A further object is to provide a golf ball washer of the above mentioned character wherein wear on the cleaning or scrubbing elements is compensated for automatically.

A still further object'is to provide an improved golf ball washer which is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, v

Figure l is a side elevational View of a golf ball washer embodying my"im' ention,

Figure 2 is a plan view ofthe sam Figure 3 is avertical sectional viwtaken on th line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view. takenon line a of Figure 2, and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on lined-5 or Figure 3.

In the drawings, wherefor the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment, of my invention, the numeral T designates an up-. standing vertical post rstandardi'haYiHg}afhori zontal platform or tray llrig'i'dly securedto its top end for receiving an'u'pstand ngfopeh top receptacle or pail l2 constituting' the body areas,- ing of my golf ball'washer.

Thepail iZis removablym'ountedupon thetray or platform II, and provided in itsfflat bottom 53 with a removable drain plugM, as shown, The pail may include a, side wall."whit'zh "is 'slightly conically tapered or flared upwardly, and the peril 'isprovided near its open top andat diametrically opposite points with a. ring or towel holder' l and golf club support clip or,holder I6, both rig; dl ur q' br aile N at a l cl wh tq of the pail, the same is provided with three cir- 2 cumferentially equidista'ntly spaced radially in wardly projecting a'perturedlug's or ears 'll', rig idly secured to the side wall of the pail and arranged at the same elevation to form a seatfor a horizontal flat circular support plate 48; rigidly secured thereto by three screws l9 or the like.

All of the operating parts ofmy golf ball washer are bodily carried by the support'plate [8,so that all parts may be removed" from the pail 12' as a unit, by simply removing] the screws l9 'and'lifting th support platelB, Rigidly secured to the bottom of the support plate l8 and suspended therefrom is a depending vertical U -shap'e'd bracket or brush holder. 20, including a flathori+ zontal bottom 2| spaced. above the bottom 1'3 and opposed parallel vertical sides 22"which e x tend throughout substantially the entire height of the pail. Integrally secured to'the'topend of the sides 22 are flat horizontal laterally cute wardly projecting mounting flanges 23, rigidly secured to the mounting plate [8 by screwsflt or the like.

Mounted between the sides 22 of the 'U --sha 'ped brush holder '20 is a pair of opposed laterally spaced vertical brushes '25 and 2B which'have their bristles 2'! directed inwardly to form opposed spaced parallel substantially continuous scrubbing surfaces. The top ends of thebrushes 25 and 26 are spaced a slight distance "below the supportplate l8, Figure '4, and the substantially flat scrubbing faces of the brushes extend perpendicular tothe; sides '22. The lower ends of the brushes are pivotally secured to the sides 22 by means of pairs of screws 28 or thelike which engage in the wooden backs of the" brushes and are journaled in openings'formed .inthe sides 22 of the brush holder. The arrangementtis such that the upper ends of the brushes are freely swingable vertically toward and away from each other within the U-shaped brush holder 20.

A pair of diametrically oppositely disposed downwardly curved leaf springs 29. are secured to the bottom of the supportplate l8 by pairs-of rivets 30 or the like. These leaf springs' 29 engagethe backs of the brushes25 and-2 6 near-their topsto resiliently-urge the brushes inwardly or toward each other. Adjusting screws SI engage in screw threaded openings in the support plate I8 and contact theleaf springs 29,;so that the tension of these springs against the brushes may be adjustedas-desired. In this respect, it should be noted that itis unnecessaryto remove anypart of.the washingmechanisrnfromthe pail #2 when adjusting the. tension of the springs29 the screws 3! being readily accessible" from above the pail.

a diagonal slot or opening 36 forming a pocket for a golf ball to be scrubbed between the bristles of the brushes 25 and 26. The paddle 32 is further provided at its bottom end with pairs of horizontal transverse stop pins 31, which en age the bottom of the support plate l8 when the paddle is pulled upwardly, to prevent the paddle from passing completely through the opening 33 and being disconnected from the washer. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pairs of stop pins 31 are spaced apart suificiently so that they straddle the bristles 2'! of the brushes during the upward and downward movement of the paddle 32.

A foraminous soap cage or receptacle 38 of wire or the like is dependingly secured to the support plate 18 at a point near the side wall of the pail l2 and spaced from the brush holder 20, as shown. The cage 38 is adapted to contain a cake of soap to facilitate thoroughly cleaning and polishing the golf ball while it is being reciprocated between the brushes. When the water in the pail is agitated by the reciprocation of the paddle 32, there is a further tendency for the soap in the cage 38 to mix through the water.

Separate means are provided for rinsing or washing a golf ball without subjecting it to any brushing or scrubbing action. Such means comprises a depending vertical Ushaped bracket 39 having top horizontal apertured extensions or ears 40, rigidly secured to the support plate [8 by rivets 41 or the like. The bracket 39 further includes spaced parallel vertical sides or guide rails 42, and a transverse horizontal bottom end 43 arranged at the elevation of the bottom 2i and rigidly secured thereto by a transverse strap or plate 44, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the end 43 and bottom 21. The plate 44 constitutes a brace for holding the bottom ends of the brackets and 39 against lateral or sidewise movement. A ball holding disc or seat 45 is disposed between the guide rails 42 and provided at diametrically opposite points with notches 45, slidably receiving the guide rails therein to hold the disc 45 against turning. The disc 45 is downwardly dished or spherically recessed as at 47 to facilitate holding a golf ball. The disc 45 is carried by the bottom ends of a pair of spaced parallel vertical rods 48 which extend for the entire length of the bracket 39 and above the top of the support plate 18 as shown. The rods 48 have their upper ends integrally connected by a transverse horizontal bight portion or handle 49, and the rods 48 reciprocate through guide openings 58 formed in the support plate if! at points radially outwardly of a large circular opening 51, also formed in the plate Hi to facilitate introducing and removing the golf ball from the disc 45. As shown in the drawings, the rods 48 are spaced ninety degrees from the guide rails 42 and form therewith a cage for holding the golf ball upon the disc 45. When the disc 45 is elevated into con- 4 tact with the bottom of the support plate I 8, the golf ball will project above the opening 51 so that it may be removed from between the rods 48.

When it is desired to scrub a golf ball between the brushes 25 and 26, the paddle 32 is raised until the stop pins 31 contact the support plate [8. The opening or pocket 36 will then be arranged above the support plate l8 so that the golf ball may be introduced into it. The opening 33 is sufiiciently large to accommodate the golf ball, when the paddle is lowered between the bristles 21 for scrubbing the ball. Likewise, when the scrubbing or cleaning operation is completed the golf ball is removed through the opening 33 after the paddle 32 is again elevated until the stop pins 31 contact the support plate [8.

As best shown in Figure 4, the top of the pail l2 extends a slight distance above the support plate 18 so that rain water falling on the plate I8 may pass into the pail through the openings 33 and 50. With this arrangement, it is seldom necessary to fill the pail with water, but when this is necessary water may be introduced through either of the openings 33 or 50.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A golf ball washer comprising an upright pail, a substantially horizontal support plate mounted within the pail near its upper end, a brush holding bracket dependingly supported by the support plate and extending near the bottom of the pail, a pair of opposed spaced upstanding brushes disposed beneath the support plate and having their lower ends pivotally secured to the brush holding bracket, the upper ends of the brushes being swingable toward and away from each other, spring means connected with the support plate and engaging the brushes near their upper ends for resiliently urging the brushes toward each other, and a golf ball holding paddle slidably mounted between the brushes for reciprocation and having an opening forming a pocket for a golf ball.

2. A golf ball washer comprising an upstanding pail, a substantially horizontal support plate arranged within the pail near the upper end thereof, a depending U-shaped bracket secured to the support plate and extending into the pail below the support plate, a pair of opposed scrubbing brushes arranged between the sides of the U-shaped bracket and having their lower ends pivotally connected to the sides, the brushes eX- tending upwardly in substantially vertical parallel relation, depending leaf springs secured to the support plate upon opposite sides of the brushes and engaging the brushes near their upper ends to resiliently urge them together, means connected with the support plate and engaging the leaf springs to adjust their tension, and a vertically reciprocatory paddle slidably mounted between the brushes and having an opening for holding a golf ball, the upper end of the paddle extending abovethe support plate.

3. A golf ball washer comprising an upstanding pail, a substantially horizontal support plate mounted within the pail near its top end, a substantially U-shaped brush holder dependingly secured to the support plate and extending into the pail below the support plate, a pair of opposed spaced upstanding scrubbing elements ar- REFERENCES CITED ranged between the sides of the U'Shaped holder The following references are of record in the and pivotally connected near their bottom ends file of this patent:

to the holder, the upper ends of the brushes being vertically swingable toward and away from each UNITED STATES PATENTS other, resilient means connected with the scrub- Number Name Date bmg elements near their upper ends to resiliently 506 726 Purinton Oct 17 1893 urge them together, a vertically reciprocatory 97o872 Babcock 1910 paddle arranged between the scrubbing elements 1 320633 Minkler 1919 and slidably mounted in the support plate and 0 1747724 Mouart N30 having an opening for holding a golf ball, and 1918529 Prater July 1933 a stop pin secured to the paddle for engagement with the support plate when the paddle is shifted upwardly to prevent the separation of the paddle from the washer.

JOSEPH JOHN GOLLER. 

